Removal of deposits from the interior surfaces of coke ovens



Dec. 25, 1945. 2,391,443

REMOVAL OF DEPOSITS FROM THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF COKE OVENS A; L. IBRUTON Filed Oct. 28, 1942 3 Sheets Sh'eet 1 [n were Zor 4156 197 ZfJZ/E BRUTO/Y 25,1945. BRUTQN 2,391,443

REMOVAL OF DEPOSITS FROM THE INTERIOR SURFACES QF COKE OVENS Filed Oct. 28, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 flllorne s Dec. 25, 1945. 'A..| B RUTON REMOVAL OF DEPOSITS FROM THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF COKHOVENS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Ot. 28, 1942 INVENTOR. dzberzf L. firuzozz,

. By 4 I V 1? ype. these ovens Patented Dec. 25, 19 4 REMOVAL OF DEPOSITS FROM THE 1N- TERIOB SURFACES. OF COKE OVENS Albert Leslie Bruton, London, England, assignor to H. A. Brassert & Company, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of Illinois Application October 28, 1942, Serial No. 463,584 In Great Britain October 28, 1941 16' Claims. (01. 202-241) The present invention relates to coking ovens and is more particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with ovens .otthe horizontal, heated being commonly known as Knowles ovens.

During the operation of coke ovens generally trouble has been experienced as a result of deposits of carbon which tendto build up on the floor, roof and sides of the oven. These deposits reduce the efliciency of the oven not only as a result of the decreased heat conductivity of the floor and walls, but also because, after a time, the thickness of the deposit becomes such as to interfere seriously with the mechanical servicing of the oven such as the pushing of the coke.

In order to obviate this difficulty it has already been proposed, in the case of both horizontal and vertical types of ovens, to blow'the deposit of carbon of]? the walls and roof in the case of the vertical type, and off. the floor in the case of the horizontal type, each time after the coke has been pushed.

Whilst such, an expedient may no doubt be satisfactory for vertical type ovens, the crosssectional area of which (above the coke) is comparatively small, it has not been found entirely satisfactory for the horizontal type of oven, chiefly owing to the fact that the cross-sectional area time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for simplyand efllciently removing the deposit from the floor, walls or root of a coking oven. 1

i In the following specification the expression "wall" is intended to cover not only the wall but also the roof and floor 0:! a coking oven.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of sucking the deposit oil the wall of an oven without drawing combustible gases or cold air into the oven over the hot floor so as to damage the latter.

Another object of the invention isto burn the deposit 01! the floor and subsequently suck the burnt deposit off the floor.

Other objects are to control automatically the strength of the-suction and/or the combustion go eflfect as the sucking device moves over the wall to be cleaned.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: as Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation above the coke is much larger and therefore an exceptionally large amount of air is required to blow even fine carbon dust out of the oven. In

the case of the vertical ovens the deposit on the walls is probably produced by coal dust from the coal charge blowing up and settling on the hot wallof the oven where it melts and is subsequently coked, whereas in the case of the horizontal type the deposit is produced chiefly by loose pieces of coke left on the floor after the ram has pushed the coke and which pieces become cemented to the floor by the next flow of liquid hydrocarbons on to the floor. Here again, blowing has been found inadequate owing to the comparatively large size of the particles to be removed, and because a comparatively large amount of air is required to blow the particles along a horizontal "oven, the cross-section of I which above the coke is large as compared with that above the coke in a vertical type of oven.

A further disadvantage of the blowing method is that if the nozzle is on the front of the ram,

. as is advisable in order to ensure that the dust through a coking oven 01! the Knowles type illustrating a simple form of the invention, Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification, I

' Figure 3 is a side elevation of a ram tor pushing coke out of a Knowles oven having mounted thereon sucking means operating in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation of a Knowles oven and showing the apparatus'of Figure 3 within the oven, v

- Figure 5' is a view similar to that of Figure 3 but of a further modification whilst,

Figure 6 is a view in end elevation of a Knowles oven illustratingan'other arrangement or suc-' tion nozzles, and,

Figures 7. a and 9 illustrate schematically.

various'controls responsive to the position of the pusher ram.

is blown out of the oven on to the coke side, the

deposit-removing or scarflng operation, as it is known, entails two traverses of the ram through the oven, one to push the coke and the other to Referring now to Figure 1, a Knowles oven comprises-a roof l0 and horizontal floor I lupon which coke is formed by heat supplied from beneath the floor. After each coking operation the ,formed coke is pushed out of the oven from right to left by a'ram-head l2 mounted upon movable ram-beam l3. During the normal operation or such a pushing device pieces of coke get left behind by the ram on its forward stroke, and on its return stroke are tamped down by the ram-head on to the coking floor ll so that after blowthe deposit out, which involves a loss of .pivoted to the front of the ram-head so that,

as the latter moves from right to left, coke is blown out of the oven on to the coke side. As indicated above such a process is inefficient since it entails a loss of time and power.

In accordance with the present invention, however, a suction pipe !5 ending in one or more nozzles 16 is mounted upon the ram-beam l3,

the nozzles terminating at the rear of the ramhead l2. As the ram-head moves from right to left on its pushing stroke the suction nozzles l5 take up dust and loose pieces of coke left behind by the ram-head and-these are sucked along the pipe 15 to a dust-and-air separator ll mounted at the rear end of the beam l3. Cleaned fluid is exhausted by means of a fan Hi to atmosphere whilst the collected dust is removed through a door I9.

As illustrated in Figure 2 the dust-and-air separator l1 and fan I8 are mounted independently of the beam [3 whilst the cleaned fluid instead of being exhausted to atmosphere 'is returned by the action of the fan l3 along a pipe 23 to the neighbourhood of the ram-head l2. With. this arrangement the separator and 'fan are connected to the pipes I 5 and 20 by way of flexible connections 2| and 22 respectively in order to allow for the travel of the ram.

It will be noticed that the scurf' layer I4 is thickest at the centre of the oven, tailing away practically to nothing at the two open ends. With the arrangement shown in Figure 1 the fluid sucked away by the nozzle I6 is replaced by atmospheric air drawn in through the two ends.

of the oven. This 'cold air would damage the floor of the oven adjacent'the open ends since at these places it travels over practically bare refractory brick. This disadvantage is. however, eliminated by the arrangement shown in Figure 2 where the cleaned gases, which are also comparaiively warm, are recirculated into the oven through pipe 20.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and-i, dust is sucked on! the floor II or the oven by four nozzles I3,

r mounted immediately behind the ram-head l2.

and the suction fluid is subjected to a primary cleaning in separators 23 and 24, or two cyclone dust bags, or other cleaning devices, whence the partially cleaned'fluid is carried through pipe I! to secondary cleaning apparatus 25 and is thence passed, by fan 26 driven by'motor 21, to atmosphere, whilst the dust collects in dust box 23 fitted with door It. In' this arrangement both the primary and secondary cleaning devices are carried upon and move with the ram-beam l3.

The arrangement illustrated in Figure 5 is simmanifold 30 (Figure 6) whence it is spread out over the oven in the transverse direction. As shown in the figure also, dust collected by the nozzles l6 passes through pipes 3| into the suction pipe l5. I

In any of the devices described the suction power may be derived from electric, hydraulic, or other convenient source and the source may be switched on and off automatically in accordance with the position of the ram head. Thus for example the electric motor 21 of Figure 3 may be operated by a switch which can be opened and closed by a lever on the ram-beam [3 in such manner that as the ram-head l2 enters the oven the lever on the ram [3 closes the motor switch and as the ram-head l2 leaves the oven on its forward stroke the motor switch is opened, the same sequence of events taking place as the ram performs its reverse stroke. Means for accomplishing this purpose are illustrated schematically in Figure 7, wherein the ram beam I3 is adapted to cooperate with a camming member 3| which may be fixed relative to the oven. Said camming member 3| is adapted, when the ram head is in the oven, to engage the lever 32 of a motor speed control box 33, from which conductors 34-34 lead to the motor 21. Said lever 32 may be biased upwardly and the control box 33 may'control-the speed of the motor 21 proportionately to the elevation of said lever 32, stopping the motor when said lever 32 clears \the two ends of the camming member 3|. As will be pointed out presently, the recirculated fluid may be varied automatically in accordance with the height of the ram head l2 above a fixed point, such as the floor level ofthe oven, whereby it is insured that the deposit-removing capacity of the apparatus varies-proportionately-with the thickness or the scurf layer.

. 9 Furthermore, the suction power may be controlled continuously-ine accordance with the position of the ram in such manner that the suction power increases as them approaches the centre of the oven, and decreases as it moves from .the

centre towards the ends of the oven, thus ensuring the maximum suction effect where the scurf layer is thickest. Means for accomplishing this purpose are-illustrated-schematically in Figure 8, wherein the ram beam l3 carries speed control box 33 having the lever 3 motor biased upwardly. Theupper extremity of said lever 32 with a proportion of cleaned fluid provided by the ilar to that of Figures 3 and 4 except that the fluid, after being subjected to a secondary cleaning in the separator 25, is driven by the fan 28, through a hit and miss regulator 29, into a recirculation pipe 20. Through the pipe 20 the cleanedfluid,v together with a certain proportion of air injected through the regulator 23, is returned to the neighbourhood of the ram-head l2. If desired the recirculated fluid may pass into a fan 23,- to burn and loosen the scurf layer I4 on the oven floor. If desired the quantity of oxygencontaining gas returned to the ram-head may be controlled automatically by varying the opening of the regulator 23 in accordance with the position of the ram-beam along the longitudinal axis of the oven. Means {or accomplishing this purpose. are illustrated schematically in Figure 9, in which the regulator 29 is provided with a damper 38 adapted to be moved by the cam 31. Said cam 31 is connected to be driven by the reversible motor 38, which may'have incorporated therewith gear reducing means (not shown). The direction of rotation oi the motor 38 and conquently the direction of movement of the damper 38 may be controlled by the control box 33, which in turn is responsive to the elevation of Alternatively v eitheror both of the suction power provided and the combustibility of the recirculated fluidm'ay be varied automatically in accordance with the. height ofthe ram-head above a flxed point such as the floor level." By this means-it is insured-that the deposit-removing capacity of the apparatus varies proportionately with the thickness 01 the sour! layer 14.

It. will be appreciated that less air and less power are required to suck dust and particles from thefloor through nozzles 01 comparatively small cross-section, than to blow them along and out o! the oven. V e

Iclaim:

.l. A method of removing deposit from the wall used in the; production of said suction action, and returning it in warm condition with the addition of combustion supporting gas such as air to th I cleaning the fluid used in said suction action and returning said fluid to said suction applying means, said cleaning means including a primary cleaner located adjacent tothe head of said ram, and a secondary cleaner located addacent to the rear of said ram.

8. Means for removing deposit from a wall of a coking oven including a ram having a head .for engaging said deposit, means movable with said ram and located in rear of said head for a applying-suction to said wall, means for cleaning the fluid used in said suction action and returning said fluid to said suction applying means, and means for adding. a combustion supporting gas such as air to said cleaned fluid so that said of a coking oven while said oven is hot which deposit y be b rn d off and loosened from consists in pushing said deposit from said wall and at the same time applying suction to said wall in rear of said pushing. action, cleaning the fluid used. in said suction action and returning it while still warm to the region where said suction action is applied to said wall.

2. A method of removing deposit from the wall of a coking oven while said. oven is hot which consists of pushing said deposit from saidwall and at the same time applying a suction action in rear of said pushing action, cleaning the fluid used in said suction action, adding thereto a proportion of combustion supporting gas such as air and returning it in warm condition to the region of the suction action upon said wall whereicy-said deposit may be burned off and loosened from the wall before it is sucked away.

3. A method of removingdeposit adhering to the wall of a coking oven which consists in pushin said deposit Iromsaid wall and at the same time applying a suction action in rear of said pushing action and controlling the amount of said suction action in accordance with the'loca- .tion or said'pushing action.

4. A method of removing deposit from the wall of a coking oven which consists of pushing said I 10f a coking ovenwhich consists in pushing said deposit from said wall and at the same time applying a suction action in rear of said pushing action, cleaning the fluid used inthe production of said suction action and returning it with theadditlon of combustion supporting gas such as cleaned fluid in accordance with the location of said suction action whereby maximum combustion occurs within the oven at, places where the thickness or depositis greatest.

e. A method or removing deposit from the wall a for engaging said deposit, suction app movable with said ram located in rear of said' --the wall before it is sucked away.

I 9. Means for removing deposit from the wallof a coking oven including a ram having a head for engaging said deposit, suction applying means so movable with said ram located in rear of said head, and means responsive to the position of said rain for controlling the extent of the suction 5 of a coking oven including a ram-having a headfor engaging said deposit, suction applying means movable with said ram located in rear of said head, and meansresponsive to, the longitudinal position of said ram for controlling the extent of (o the suction of said s'uction applying means.

11. Means for remeving deposit from the wall of a cokin oven including a ram having a head for engaging said deposit, suction applying means movable with said ram located in rear of said I 45 head, and means .responsive'to the elevation of said ram for controlling the extent of the suction of said suction applying means. I v

12/ Means for removing deposit from the wall of a coking oven including a ram ha a head. means head, and means responsive to the longitudinal position and thefelevati'on of said ram for controlling the extent ofthe suction of said suction applying. means. i

- 13. Means for removing deposit from a wall of a coking even including a ram having a head ,for' engaging said deposit, means movable with said ram and located in rear of said head for applying suction to said wall, means for cleaning the fluid used in said suction .action and retuming said fluid to said suction applying means,

means for adding a combustion supporting gas such as airto said cleaned fluid so that said deair to the location of said suction action; and posit may befburned ofi and loosened from the controllin the proportion of" said gas t'o said "15. Means for removing deposit from a wall of a coking oven including a ram having a head for engaging said deposit, means movable with said ram and located in rear oi said head for applying suction to said wall, means 'for cleaning the fluid used in said suction action andreturnsuch as air to said cleaned fluid so that said deposit may be burned of! and loosened from the wall before it is sucked away, and means for controlling the proportion of said combustion supporting gas to cleaned gasin accordance with the longitudinal position of said ram.

15. Means for removing deposit from a wall or a coking oven including a ram having a head for engagin said deposit, means movable with said ram and located in rear of said head for applying suction to, said well, means for cleaning the fluid used in said suction action and return; ing said fiuid to said suction applying means, means for adding a combustion supporting gas such as air to said cleaned fluid so that said deposit may be burned off and loosened from the trolling the proportion of said combustion supporting gas to cleaned gas in accordance with the elevation of said ram.

16. Means for removing deposit from a wall of a coking oven including am having ahead for engaging said deposit, means movable with said ram and located in rear of said head for applying suction to said wall, mean for cleaning the fluid used in said suction iwtion and returning said fluid to said suction applying means,

means for adding a combustion supporting gas wall before it is sucked away, and means for consuch as air to said cleaned fluid so that said deposit may be burned off and loosened from the wall before it is sucked away, and means for controlling the proportion of said combustion supporting gas to cleaned gas in accordance with the longitudinal position and the elevation oi sai ram. v

- ALBERT LESLIE BRU'I'ON. 

